Belly Shack
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1912 N Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60647 b/t Homer St & Winnebago Ave
Logan Square, Bucktown - Get Directions
- Phone number (773) 252-1414
- Message the business
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Business website bellyshack.com
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“They've also got some awesome tostones with this fabulous dipping sauce.” in 143 reviews
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“Mindi Segal does a great job with the Soft Serve, we had the bacon Chocolate chip topping.” in 76 reviews
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“I am a huge lover of fries so I had to order the Togarashi fries and they did not disappoint by any means.” in 37 reviews
Recommended Reviews
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8/9/2015
1 check-inSolid. I think 4 stars is a bit generous, but I like a couple of the things they have going on enough. First off, the curry udon were very good, even if I did get them all over my clothes. Great curry flavor, not too spicy, and good lemongrass meatballs. I highly recommend backing those up with a side of the fries (split them, it's actually a big order), which come with a tasty shake-on seasoning and a really good curry mayo sauce. My fries came out WHITE hot, very very good. The prices are reasonable, the service is very fast, and they were quite friendly. I was kind of impressed at their ability to accommodate a 2 year old as well - they were ready to go with a hot dog option on a really nice house made roll with a side of french fries (which the 2 year old's parents and I ate with that curry mayo when the kid got full). Big plus for that - I don't know how many they go through, but I really don't expect a sort of hipster fusion place to be toddler friendly.
Others reported very good tacos and other items (I want to say a sort of fusion gyro? I'm forgetting already) and everyone was satisfied for not a crazy amount of cash. If I'm in the area again (which is infrequent, unfortunately) I would hesitate to stop by. -
- Shamoon K.
- Chicago, IL
- 27 friends
- 43 reviews
- Elite ’15
7/11/2015
Here's an example of how good food trumps everything else. We came on a Friday night around 8 pm and were happy to find that the restaurant wasn't too busy. We ordered a passion fruit lemonade, a belly dog, and a curry udon noodle. The passion fruit lemonade came in a carafe which was excellent, since you get a lot of it for three bucks. I was just expecting to get a glass of it, so good on them. The bad part is that it tasted nothing like passion fruit. It was super sour and felt like it came from a kids lemonade stand. That said, we couldn't stop drinking it! So just be aware that even though it says its passion fruit, its really just some good old fashioned lemonade.
So after we got our lemonade we had to wait 27 minutes until our entrees came out. 27! For a place that wasn't busy you would think they'd have the food out to you in 15 minutes, max. 27 is an excruciatingly long time to wait for your noms. That being said, it was worth the wait.
The belly dog isn't your classic hot dog, Its a hot GOD. They put fried egg noodles and pickled papaya on it with some spices that you've already read about here on yelp. But no one talks about the "bun". Its not a bun, its a thick slice of brioche or something. And its awesome. Perfectly toasted and soft on the inside, it was a nice surprise. A side of togarashi fries were welcome, since those are like four bucks on their own. The fries themselves are nothing special, just fries with some salt and spice. But the dipping sauce is really what takes it over the top. Its this kinda thai curry mayo that socks you in the mouth and then socks you again and again.
Next, the curry udon. While the portion itself isn't very large, its large in flavor. A completely unique dish that has an Indonesian style curry with black beans, chicken, basil, and lemongrass. A lot of lemongrass. It just hits that line of almost too much lemongrass, but manages to stay under it. I've eaten a lot of udon noodles, and these were some of the best cooked noodles that I've ever had. Super thick and chewey and provided that bite you're looking for. Phenomenal dish.
Even though both dishes are kinda small for $28 (with tip and a lemonade) and even though it took a half an hour to get our food, we would happily come back. Good food always wins, and this is a winner. -
7/8/2015
1 check-inDecor/cleanliness/environment: very clean and very spacious. (1/1)
Service: very quick. You just have to go and order at the cashier first. Then find your own table and the staff will deliver the food to you. (1/1)
Food: I was kinda disappointed because my expectation was really high before I came in. My significant other and I ordered taco platter and belly dog. Taco platter is good but quantity is small. Belly dog tastes a bit weird. It is not that delicious as I expected to be. (0/2)
Cost: $$$ !!!! With that small portion, it's too pricey for me. (0/1) -
6/14/2015
The hubby discovered this place awhile ago and we finally got to check it out for ourselves. We ordered the pork belly tacos and curry udon noodles as well as the tostones.
The tacos were pretty good and I definitely recommend getting it with pork belly (the other options are ground chicken or tofu). Loved the addition of kimchi with the tacos and pork belly was very fatty- which is how it should be. Pretty good.
The curry udon noodles were pretty good too. Udon noodles are my fave! Their thick noodles were spot on and the curry sauce was flavorful.
The hubby greatly enjoyed the tostones which are mashed up plantains which are then fried and topped with this chimchurri sauce which gave it a nice sour and salty kick.
Overall, an enjoyable lunch and I hope to go back to try out some other other dishes. -
- Cinthya Q.
- Logan Square, Chicago, IL
- 22 friends
- 50 reviews
- Elite ’15
4/25/2015
Eh.
I had such high hopes for this place especially because of the great yelp reviews.
We ordered the Belly Dog and my husband liked it. While the toppings were good (pickled papaya, egg noodles, and togarashi spiced fries) the actual hotdog wasn't anything special. I guess we were expecting a specialty wiener.
I ordered the the taco platter which had three steak tacos. This is where the 3 star ratting comes from.
The tacos were lukewarm when I got them and were complexly cold by the time I finished the first taco. The toppings were good and exciting since they aren't normally on tacos.
However, they were very chewy; while eating one I couldn't bite it into smaller pieces and actually choked. Obviously I couldn't enjoy a meal after that.
I like the fusion between the Latino and Asian flavors. The toppings were interesting and made for cool dishes. The beer menu is good The toppings were good and the lemonade was great.
However, based on just this one visit (and the whole choking thing) I can't give it any higher ratings. -
- Michelle R.
- Chicago, IL
- 12 friends
- 38 reviews
- Elite ’15
4/8/2015
YUM! I love this place! I live nearby and am tempted almost everyday to stop here when I get off at the Western blue line stop from work.
Every once in a while, I get a craving for a, erm, unhealthy I guess is the word, type of meal. But I don't want fast food cause, gross. A good sandwich with fries, washed away with beer. The Belly Shack is great for that. Get the Belly Dog with fries. It's so delicious and unique! A really good juicy hot dog, topped with egg noodles and pickled papaya. And that sauce is spicy and sweet. So good you will be thinking about it later. The fries are also awesome and come with a yummy curry mayo. They sell beer here too which is always a plus for small joints like this. And if you don't want a hot dog and fries, try the udon noodles cause those are good too! -
4/3/2015
1 check-inI went here for dinner w/ some friends on a Friday night. The restaurant was 3/4 packed and by the time we left, all the tables were full, so the place definitely gets a lot of traffic. I ordered:
-Taco platter w/ Korean BBQ beef: this was a good dish. The tacos come deconstructed (w/ 5 tortillas), so you can make your tacos as big or as small as you'd like. The beef tastes like your standard KBBQ beef - nothing special here, but still good nonetheless.
-Togarashi fries: these were pretty damn good. If you like salty (which I LOVE), then definitely get these fries. They're crunchy and have a generous amount of togarashi sprinkled on top. The curry mayo is awesome, too.
-Soft serve: this was amazing! When we went, it was a vanilla soft serve that came w/ mangos and tapioca. The soft serve was creamier than your normal soft serve, which I think made the dessert even better.
Note: one of my friends had the Curry Udon Noodle and said it was "meh" and that he felt like the ingredients were just "thrown together". I didn't try his curry udon noodles, but I trust his judgment.
I should probably add that I'm from California, where we have a ton of food trucks and restaurants similar to Belly Shack, so the Belly Shack concept isn't new to me (which is probably why I wasn't blown away by this place). However, I can definitely see how someone trying this type of Asian fusion food for the 1st time would absolutely love it. If I were to come back, I'd want to try the Belly Dog and I would for sure order the togarashi fries and the soft serve again. -
4/27/2015
1 check-inHoly. Mother. Of. God. This place was awesome.
Party of 3, Sunday afternoon, 3pm.
MUST orders:
**CURRY UDON** this is NO ordinary udon. it's not a soup. it's perfectly cooked udon noodles bathing in a red lemongrass curry made with black bean, corn, and ground chicken. so incredibly good.
**BELLY DOG** this is NO ordinary hot dog. it's east coast styled bun - where you lop off half of loaf of bread and slice it down the middle to make a bun. then jam a delicious beef hot dog in there with some crazy spicy-sweet sauce, and top it off with ramen-like noodles and pickled papaya. served with a side of skinny fries dashed with spices and served with curry mayo.
Brussel sprouts: sautéed with balsamic and bacon
Belly Burger: burger, fried onions, over easy egg and a chili sauce. fresh tasty bun. very good but not better than the curry udon or belly dog
Passion fruit lemonade: fresh, tasty, refreshing
It's right under the El tracks of the western blue line station - definitely worth finding. Parking is street and can be terrible. you can BYOB. -
5/7/2015
Listed in a la card Chicago 2015Finally went back to Belly Shack for the first time in over 3 years. I live pretty much across the street so it's a little embarrassing to even admit that, but I digress. Went in on a Tuesday evening at about 7pm. We were on our way home after landing at O'Hare and just wanted an easy take out dinner without having to resort to eating fast food. There were only 2 or 3 other people in at that time.
I had the curry udon noodle which was delicious and I can't wait to have again. My husband had the belly dog, which was even better than I remembered. The togarashi fries were perfectly spiced and especially good with the dipping sauce. Our friend had the beef taco platter, which I was happy to see they packaged the toppings and corn tortillas separately.
Prices were average and our bill for 3 people was just under $40. As always, the Belly restaurants don't disappoint. I will say, though, that as much as I like it, I probably wouldn't go out of my way to come here.
Only bummer was they wouldn't let us use one of our "a la card Chicago" cards. The rules state they are for dine-in only, but does that really matter at a place with no waiter service? We'll just have to make our way back again before the end of the year. -
- Lillie W.
- Brooklyn, NY
- 1 friend
- 25 reviews
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- Morganne B.
- Chicago, IL
- 32 friends
- 128 reviews
- Elite ’15
4/4/2015
1 check-inI was surprised to see this place was half empty--no, half full--on a Friday night at 7:30 but we were able to walk right up to the counter and place our orders. Started with the sake margarita. Even though the mix tasted like it was store bought/from a bottle, the sake in there made it interesting. It wasn't very strong, but I'd order it again just for the novelty. I got the lettuce wraps with chicken, and shared the Brussels sprouts with my boyf, who ordered the beef taco platter. Both the lettuce wraps and tacos are deconstructed which can be good if you're a picky eater and bad if you're lazy. We agreed we would've liked more spice to the meats. Both are sort of small portions. The Brussels sprouts were heavy on the bacon which is always a great thing. My friends had the soft serve and pretty much inhaled it, so I want to try it if I ever go back!
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- Patrick J.
- Chicago, IL
- 1 friend
- 1 review
5/24/2015
Ate the burger and split the hot dog. Both were huge let downs based on the reviews.
Essentially too much Asian fusion going on and the overdose of whatever sauce they put on didn't help.
To put you in my shoes, I'm now eating Tums to settle my stomache and immediately taking out my trash to remove the weird stench that is now lingering in my home.
Fortunately its Memorial Day weekend so
I can spend my Monday in the bathroom instead of the office. Good for me. -
10/17/2014
1 check-inWe found this restaurant right off of the Western stop of the Blue Line. We were hungry from our plane ride and I just wanted to explore to find something new. Talking to a pleasant lady in the train who told us to go to this taco joint off of Western, but we had to take the bus, and needed to eat right away.
We stumbled upon the Belly Shack and we can't wait to come back. The belly dog is yummy. However, we didn't have enough noodles in our hot dog. I wish that I did because it would have a little more texture to put it close to perfect.
The tinto is only okay. I guess, I drink too much to even get a buzz off of it. The aftertaste is a little odd like it has aspartame in it. . Usually, the blood orange soda I'll drink is Pellegrino. I guess, it must have been an additive.
The vanilla soft serve with caramel was really delicious!! The server was so nice, she gave me an extra spoon just in case I wanted to taste it. Great idea.
Also, the restroom was clean. Yeah!-
The Belly Dog might be my favorite Chicago hot dog!The Belly Dog might be my favorite Chicago hot dog!
10/20/2014 Rosie,
Thanks for your review! I'm really happy to hear that you were able to join us and enjoy a… Rosie,
Thanks for your review! I'm really happy to hear that you were able to join us and enjoy a few of our menu items. We don't use any additives in our Tinto - just red wine and blood orange Pellegrino! We hope to see you again the next time you're in town.
Warm Regards,
Belly Shack Team Read more -
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- L K.
- Chicago, IL
- 7 friends
- 34 reviews
7/20/2015
I see what you guys are trying to do here. Maybe when you first opened, you were trying really hard to get people in the door, build up some street creed, do something different. I get it. But I had what I can only describe as the worst burger of my life here this past weekend. Like, inedibly bad. It was way overcooked (like, chewy) and not seasoned properly at all. I ate the fries, which were fine. The lemongrass chicken gyro was slightly better, but overall also pretty disappointing. Really too bad.
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- Amy M.
- Chicago, IL
- 1 friend
- 10 reviews
6/17/2015
I've eaten at Belly Shack on multiple occasions. Their food is normally pretty tasty, albeit super greasy. I was a big fan of their old menu -- not so much of their new menu.
Wait time is always much longer than you'd expect. I just waited over 15 minutes for just an order of tostones. Please, please let me know if there is going to be a long wait. I don't want to waste the majority of my lunch hour waiting for my lunch. -
12/25/2014
1 check-inI ordered the tostones and chimichiurri sauce. Really enjoyed it while I was eating it. Crunchy and fried to perfection. I didn't enjoy the sauce though. It was too acidic. Perhaps an aioli would have made a better pairing.
Um... and then... it hit me. I think I got food poisoning from this... I'm rather positive actually. I crawled up in fetal position for the rest of the evening. Thank God there's Tums.
I don't think the initial gratification is worth the pain that follows.12/30/2014 Cindy,
I'm sorry to hear that you weren't feeling well. Please contact me directly at … Cindy,
I'm sorry to hear that you weren't feeling well. Please contact me directly at mail@bellyshack.com so that we can discuss further.
Warm Regards,
Belly Shack Team Read more -
- Jolie D.
- Los Angeles, CA
- 264 friends
- 385 reviews
3/1/2015
1 check-inCame to eat here the other evening with my family and, I swear we ordered everything on the menu. Hats off to the passion fruit lemonade - ah-mazing. We had:
- Taco platter, which satisfied my 12 yo nephew, but was a little bland.
- Wheat Berry Bowl - interesting, but the grain was a little too tough, I thought
- Tostones - absolutely out of this world. The chimichurri sauce was soooo good and fresh
- Vegetarian Ramen - tasty, nothing to write home about
- Hot & Sour tortilla soup - yummy, but aside from the hominy was a lot like every other tortilla soup I have ever had.
The girls who worked the counter were polite but not over engaging and it irked me a little that they did a "last call" right at 9. They should have waited until we were going. If not for that, I would have rated this place a 4, but it's the little things. -
- Sarah T.
- Elk Grove Village, IL
- 0 friends
- 7 reviews
7/26/2015
What can I say about Belly Shack?
Causal
Fast
Clean
Good
My friend and I were out in the city for a girls day/night. I randomly pulled up yelp and started searching for a place for dinner. Both of us didn't quite know what we wanted to consume but we had a general idea the food had to be unique. Belly Shack caught our eyes.
We ordered two meals for the sharing and two drinks.
Belly Dog: big enough to share and hit the spot without being overwhelmed. At first I was bit hesitant due to the fact I DO NOT EAT HOT DOGS. If and when I do there are specific requirements the dog needs to hit. The hot dog used for the Belly Dog was quite tasty and juicy. The overall taste to the Belly Dog was sweet, spicy enough for me not to chug down water, and slightly salty. The best part of the belly dog was the bun. The fact it held in all the ingredients stuffed on top of, the bun was a bit sweet and equally toasted & soft (the perfect combo). The bun brought together the whole taste, which I love as did my friend. The fries and dipping sauce were good.
Lemongrass Chicken Gyro: The gyro was supposedly a special that day. I enjoyed the meal except I could do without the slices of the chicken gyro. I understand the Belly Shack was going towards the healthy gyro but a gyro is not a gyro without the greasiness. I would order the item again, don't get me wrong but I wish the slices of gyros was grilled or something that gave it some texture to the overall sandwich. My friend and I replaced the fries with plantain chips. Big mistake. We should have kept the fries. The plantain were not special.
Passion Fruit Lemonade: I hate, hate passion fruit especially the flavor in drinks. Passion fruit always takes fake and sugary. BUT THE PASSION FRUIT LEMONADE WAS DELIGHTFUL and REFRESHING. The passion fruit gave the drink a bit of something-something.
Sake Margarita: There was a third word but I don't remember it. After a few sips I cared less about the drink (didn't help the passion fruit lemonade tasted a lot better). The combination of the food and the margarita just didn't click with me. I don't know if anyone else had that issue but I did. I knew I should have finished the margarita before eating.
The service was quick for us. The female working the cashier was friendly and nice. She awkwardly stood at the counter waiting for us to make our decision. The price matched the quality of the food, always a plus. The ambience was clean and nice. The background music was indeed background. As for the design, I enjoyed looking at the decor. It fit with the food in my opinion.
Would go back for the belly dog and the passion fruit lemonade. -
- Tony O.
- Plano, TX
- 79 friends
- 30 reviews
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- Erin E.
- Chicago, IL
- 25 friends
- 23 reviews
4/17/2015
Listed in Walking Distance!The Jibarito
Belly Dog
Tostones
Togarashi Fries
Brussels Sprouts
Curry Udon Noodle
Lettuce Wraps
Taco Plattter
These are some of my favorite things in the entire city (and that means in the entire world; no place has food as good as Chicago. No. Place.) This place raises the bar.
Too bad it's only BYO on Sundays now :( -
- Joyce C.
- Morristown, NJ
- 23 friends
- 8 reviews
5/28/2015
I got the pork belly banh mi and my sister got the half chicken entree. We shared the special soft serve (vanilla soft serve, key lime drizzle, graham cracker bits, and coconut tapioca).
The pork belly banh mi came with these amazing plantain chips. Super good and not that expensive (under $10). The half chicken entree was a little on the salty side but came with this really good rice that sopped up all the spices!
The special soft serve was incredible - highly recommend. Perfect for sharing!
Plus was the music was awesome. They played everything from Jimmy Eat World to Journey!! -
- Ben R.
- Skokie, IL
- 15 friends
- 19 reviews
6/2/2015
1 check-inI've passed by this place (literally) hundreds of times and just stopped in to check it out. This place is amazing!
We had their burger which was the daily special. This is a sad thing because it was the BEST. BURGER. EVER. From the bread, to the crunch, to the egg (I usually don't like that) this was a game changer.
I'm still sitting here but had to write this so I wouldn't miss any of the details of this meal. A true testament to how good this place is. -
- Jessica R.
- Chicago, IL
- 11 friends
- 27 reviews
7/13/2015 Updated review
This has become a favorite for us - even now with kids. Love the togarashi fries with curry mayo, and the tostones. the pork belly bahn mi is delicious, and my 2yo son loves the chicken and chorizo rice. I'm sad the boricua is gone, but always enjoy and look forward to what they have next.
My husband and I stumbled upon this place and he remembered that the chef has Celiac so we stopped… My husband and I stumbled upon this place and he remembered that the chef has Celiac so we stopped by for some gluten-free food. I really enjoyed the Quinoa salad side/appetizer to make lettuce wraps with Korean Chili paste - fresh, unique and tasty. I ate the Boricua with crispy plantains, Chinese black beans, marinated tofu and organic brown rice. It was very delicious and filling.4/19/2010 Previous review
I'm definitely plan on stopping again and bringing some wine. Great attentive service, minimal decor but intimate setting. Read more -
12/6/2014
What in the world?!?!?! 4 stars 700 reviews?! Did something go wrong when I came in or something?!
The food was terrible! It was SO FREAKING BLAND. We could have cooked at home instead.
Got the curry with pork, hot dog, and quinoa salad of some sort. And it was $30 for all of it. I'm never coming back!12/8/2014 Linh,
I am sorry to hear about your experience, this does not sound like the norm. At your earliest… Linh,
I am sorry to hear about your experience, this does not sound like the norm. At your earliest convenience, please contact me directly at mail@bellyshack.com so that we can discuss further.
Warm Regards,
Belly Shack Team Read more -
9/30/2014
LOVE Belly Shack! Our friends live right down the block from Belly Shack and it is a favorite of ours whenever we go.
The vibe in the restaurant is causal and hip and the Korean / Puerto Rican fusion is an incredible combo.
I'm sad they got rid of their Brussel Sprouts side dish... we had that last year and it was bomb! Any of their pork dishes are awesome and I recently fell in love with their Veggie Burrito. It is a perfect size (not too big) and the carrot ginger sauce it comes with is mind blowing. Belly Shack also had some fab looking desserts, although I haven't dabbled in their desserts yet.... until next time!
Prices here are great too! Overall, a fantastic and addicting spot!10/1/2014 Meg,
I appreciate you taking the time to leave a review. I'm really glad to hear that we are one of… Meg,
I appreciate you taking the time to leave a review. I'm really glad to hear that we are one of your favorites, and we hope that you'll join us for dessert in the near future!
Warm Regards,
Belly Shack Team Read more -
- Jessica S.
- Chicago, IL
- 0 friends
- 7 reviews
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7/11/2014
This is how you Belly Shack properly:
+ Belly Dog (because it's a hot dog with pickled green papaya and NOODLES on it. I mean, come on.)
+ Kimchi Potato Salad (two of the best things on the planet together? This is a no brainer).
+ Togarashi Spiced Fries with Curry Mayo (you already get some fries with your Belly Dog, but can you really say no to more? Togarashi spiced! Curry mayo! Flavor party! You're invited!)
+ Lemonade of the Day (I adore lemonade and they have fun flavors! Last time, it was passionfruit. Passionfruit flavored everything is a dream. You get a tiny little pitcher of it too. Super cute!)
+ Huckleberry Lime Soft Serve (cold and creamy and tart and refreshing. No better way to polish off a slightly indulgent meal.)
Some more deets:
- Located under the Western Blue line
- It is casual quick-serve. Order at the counter, grab a number, go get your own water, etc (BUT YOU GOT LEMONADE, REMEMBER?), and sit down. They'll bring your food out to you.
- They also deliver, for you lucky ducks that live in their delivery zone.
- Don't try to go on Monday.
- Everything else on the menu is delicious, but I can never pass up a hot dog with noodles on it.7/11/2014 Yanyao,
Thank you for your detailed review of your favorite menu items! I appreciate you taking the… Yanyao,
Thank you for your detailed review of your favorite menu items! I appreciate you taking the time to recommend Belly Shack, and we hope to see you again very soon!
Best,
Belly Shack Team Read more -
- Dina K.
- Chicago, IL
- 19 friends
- 18 reviews
6/11/2015
My first time at belly shack, I ordered beef boricua of the daily special, it was pretty good. It's not that big portion or size. I also ordered a passion fruit lemonade which was very good. I'm just a little disappointed that I had to pay more then $10 for my food. I only bought for myself. I may come back. But I would recommend this place to my friends.
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7/7/2014
1 check-inThe restaurant is located beneath the Western L stop on the Blue Line, which is pretty cool. It's very urban, and the inside decor matches very well with that theme.
The menu is pretty small, so there isn't really much to choose from. It's a bit underwhelming...
We ordered:
Asian Pork Meatball sandwich: stuffed with Somen noodles, Korean chili paste and mint. I don't know what was going on with this sandwich. The somen noodles don't make any sense with it, nor does it necessarily complement the flavors or the textures of the sandwich. The meatballs were just OK, and the sauce was maybe a little too sweet. I did not appreciate the mint with this, either. I just don't know if all the flavors are incorporated to balance each other out in this dish.
Korean BBQ Beef: with kimchi, ssam paste and scallions; served with flat bread. This dish was pretty good. I just feel like I could make something like this at home, a little more fitting to my taste buds.
I think I shouldn't get my hopes up too much for this kind of fusion food. I'm almost always disappointed...Sorry, I really did try...7/7/2014 Tina,
Thanks for your feedback. I'm glad you enjoyed the decor and the Korean BBQ Beef. We hope… Tina,
Thanks for your feedback. I'm glad you enjoyed the decor and the Korean BBQ Beef. We hope you'll come back again and try out some of flavorful sides and other entrees!
Warm Regards,
Belly Shack Team Read more -
- Laura W.
- Lake Zurich, IL
- 0 friends
- 6 reviews
7/26/2015
Wow. I was really impressed by the food here. Menu Is small, but I think that must be how they do the items they do so well. Can't wait to try more items next week here- definitely coming back! I also can't wait to recommend it to vegetarian friends because their vegetarian options are fantastic. Well done!
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- Christine H.
- Chicago, IL
- 151 friends
- 80 reviews
- Elite ’15
7/4/2014
1 check-inGreat Asian fusion!
There's a variety of Asian fusion in Chicago area from low-end to high-end. And this is definitely one of the must-have.
Belly Shack has interesting decor. It is really fitting for it's location underneath the blue line El.
I ordered the Toragashi fries with the Pork Meatball Sandwich. The meatball was really good and topped with noodles. The fries are seasoned with a bit of chili powder and included a sweet mustard dipping sauce, and is salty and sweet combination. The meal is filling and satisfying.
Belly Shack is in a great location, accessible by El, and the area around has a lot of street parking.7/7/2014 Christine,
Thanks for taking the time to review and recommend Belly Shack! I'm really happy to hear… Christine,
Thanks for taking the time to review and recommend Belly Shack! I'm really happy to hear that you enjoyed your visit and we look forward to seeing you again in the near future.
Best,
Belly Shack Team Read more -
1/31/2015
I can't believe I waited so long to eat here. Absolutely delicious food, from appetizers to main course to desserts, even their drinks are amazing! We ordered tostones, togarashi fries, hot and sour soup, curry udon noodles, chicken taco platter and roasted chicken! ALL of them were so delightful and bursting with flavors! Their donuts are a must, as well as, their cold coffee!! Loved this place and will visit again!!
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1/29/2015
1 check-inI'm going to get the bad out of the way first on this review. The Yuzu margarita was just barely drinkable. I didn't like it much at all. Far too acidic and not well balanced. Other than that the actual food was great. I had no idea what I should order so I ended up deciding on the togarashi fries. They were really tasty and a little bit spicy. I also enjoyed the brussel sprouts that did that played into those classic combination of salt from the bacon with an Asian flare from the soy sauce. The balsamic brought a nice acid as well. As far as my entree goes, I ended up ordering a sandwich that I remember being OK but honestly can't recall any other details about it. There were lots of things on the menu that I was interested in trying, but my aversion to kimchi kept me away. All things considered it was a good place for a quick meal.
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- Jenny K.
- Chicago, IL
- 1 friend
- 11 reviews
3/11/2015
So first of all, this review is only for the lechon ramen.
Obviously, this is not a traditional Japanese ramen. Definitely some Latin inspired flavors going on here. It's pretty much ramen noodles in a pork broth, thin slices of pork (think like cheesesteak thin) cubes of salami, scallions, and crispy tortilla strips. (Also there were like 2 random pieces of broccoli or broccolini stalk in there? Didn't know if that was intentional..)
Noodles- Overcooked. Okay, so this bowl of ramen was at a whopping $13 + tax, which came out to nearly $15. I feel like once you enter the $15/bowl price range, you cannot afford to overcook the noodles! They better be perfect! Even though it is a fairly decorated dish with a lot of flavors going on, the noodles are the main component that helps the other ingredients come out. If the noodles are soft and falling apart, the dish is does not work.
Broth- rich, ideal viscosity, not too thick, not too thin, and this is a mark that a lot of Chicago ramen joints fail to hit. I would imagine it had a nice strong pork flavor, but the broth was very much overpowered by the salami taste, which had a strong sweetness to it, and also a slightly dirty pork flavor. But about the sweetness, I understand that this is a fusion dish, so it's okay to veer from the traditional Japanese pork broth. My issue is that the flavors should stay within the salty realm and not have any sort of sweetness. Because it is a rich, fatty pork base, it matches better with saltiness. Sweet flavors don't complement it and often make me feel a little sick.
Pork&Salami- this is a very meaty ramen. I will give props to the thin pork slices, especially because they were very well cooked, and a good variation of the Japanese pork belly. It worked really because they were lean slices of meat that were cooked long enough so that they melted in your mouth.
The salami I felt was excessive and obtrusive. There was quite a bit of pork slices already, and adding salami on that was just too much meat, especially considering that, other than the small sprinkling of scallions, there were no vegetables. 2 different kinds of pork in a pork broth is not what I'm looking for. Also, like I said before, the flavor of the salami was sweet and strange, which flavored the entire dish in a distasteful way.
Tortilla strips were a nice touch. Thin, perfectly crispy, added a nice texture to the dish.
Seems like a cool restaurant, but I'm not in love with the ramen, especially with its $15 price tag. Especially because it's such an overly-trendy item in the city right now. Belly Shack seems like it has some creativity that other Asian/fusion spots in the city are lacking. I would like to see them do something a little more unique, and sets them apart from what the others are all doing. -
- Briana A.
- Chicago, IL
- 0 friends
- 3 reviews
3/22/2015
I've read other reviews saying the food was very bland. My boyfriend and I ordered two different dishes and both were very flavorful. You can definitely taste the different influences in the dishes.
The only complaint was the size of the orders were much smaller than expected. Two orders were $27 and each order came in about half of the take out box they were placed in. We could've gotten more of our money's worth near the same location. -
- Naveen N.
- Philadelphia, PA
- 5 friends
- 6 reviews
9/20/2014
3 check-insSo this is my second time here and the last time was easily 2 yrs ago but I've been craving to return for a long time. Now is the time to test whether they're as good as my memory keeps telling me they are!
First off the Tostones side dish with chimichurri sauce. Yup, first point to my memory. They're crispy, tangy, bursting with flavour and probably way too much for me to eat alone. Good thing I like a challenge!
Main course I chose the Korean BBQ beef with kimchi and steamed buns. Good solid kimchi that I'm not sure is store bought or made in house but really good nevertheless. The beef though is the center piece of this meal and could stand happily on it's own. Juicy, extremely well marinated and the Korean BBQ flavour will coat the inside of your mouth well after you're done swallowing. However, it's always a shame to leave behind the residual sauce/gravy on the plate when you know it tastes so darn good. Viola, steamed buns!! The chef who put this dish together knows what he's doing. I admit without guilt that I mopped up every last bit of sauce with the buns and returned an extremely clean plate to the kitchen :)
I know it's lunch time but a great balancer to the meal was the sake-margarita, how could I resist!
Overall the decor is simple but cool, they don't pretend towards fancy service or interiors and that accents the great food more than anything else. Would I come here again, been there, done that...and probably gonna do it again!!
Gonna walk away now, listening to my memory saying "I toooold you so!!"9/22/2014 Naveen,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review! I'm so glad to hear that you've been able… Naveen,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review! I'm so glad to hear that you've been able to enjoy several of our menu items and that you are planning to return. We hope to see you soon!
Best,
Belly Shack Team Read more -
- Vince R.
- Brodheadsville, PA
- 3 friends
- 8 reviews
3/7/2015
Great food. Literally some of the better fresher tasting food I had while in Chicago and it was cheaper then all the others as well. Really enjoyed it. I had a scallop dish with polenta, other people had chicken and rice and the taco dish and they all raved about it!
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12/30/2014
1 check-inThought it was very good all the way around. A little on the sweet side for me which is fine it is Korean but wasn't so in love with brown rice bowl and all the dark meat. Fries, those cheese egg rolls and the chicken noodle were excellent and I had them for takeout. Also downloaded the app and it gave me $5 off bill. Give it a try I will again
1/4/2015 Kyle,
Thanks for leaving a review of your visit! I'm glad you were able to join our Urbanbelly… Kyle,
Thanks for leaving a review of your visit! I'm glad you were able to join our Urbanbelly loyalty program and we hope to see you again soon!
Best,
Belly Shack Team Read more -
- Joshua G.
- Chicago, IL
- 21 friends
- 34 reviews
1/18/2015
Interesting combinations of asian and american foods. I have been twice and not been disappointed. If you're looking for some flair and flavor Belly Shack can definitely offer that.
Also above all try the custard.1/18/2015 Joshua,
Thank you for leaving a review of your visit! I appreciate you taking the time to recommend… Joshua,
Thank you for leaving a review of your visit! I appreciate you taking the time to recommend Belly Shack, and we look forward to seeing you again in the near future!
Warm Regards,
Belly Shack Team Read more -
12/21/2014
This was one tasty meal! We stopped in on a wednesday night for dinner and quickly ordered and got a seat. We had the bacon brussel sprouts, plantain chips, and kimchi/beef plate. Each item was a nicely sized portion with so much flavor. The prices weren't bad for the quality and I will definitely be back.
12/30/2014 Brett,
Thanks for your review! I'm glad you were able to come in and enjoy several different menu… Brett,
Thanks for your review! I'm glad you were able to come in and enjoy several different menu items. We hope to see you again in the near future!
Warm Regards,
Belly Shack Team Read more
Business info summary
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- Today
- 11:30 am - 9:00 pm Open now
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$$
- Price range
- $11-30
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Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See other places they like.
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Hours
| Mon | Closed | |
|---|---|---|
| Tue | 11:30 am - 9:00 pm | |
| Wed | 11:30 am - 9:00 pm | |
| Thu | 11:30 am - 9:00 pm | Open now |
| Fri | 11:30 am - 10:00 pm | |
| Sat | 11:30 am - 10:00 pm | |
| Sun | 11:30 am - 9:00 pm |
Menu
- Tostones
- $5.00
- Belly Dog
- $9.00
More business info
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- Takes Reservations
- No
- Delivery
- Yes
- Take-out
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards
- Yes
- Good For
- Lunch, Dinner
- Parking
- Street
- Bike Parking
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Yes
- Good for Kids
- Yes
- Good for Groups
- Yes
- Attire
- Casual
- Ambience
- Hipster
- Noise Level
- Average
- Alcohol
- Beer & Wine Only
- Outdoor Seating
- No
- Wi-Fi
- Free
- Has TV
- No
- Dogs Allowed
- No
- Waiter Service
- No
- Caters
- Yes
From the business
Established in 2009. Combining the flavors of Chef Bill Kim's and his wife Yvonne's Korean and Puerto Rican youth, Belly Shack takes you on a playful journey through the foods that …
Learn more about Belly Shack , Opens a popupHistory
Established in 2009.
Combining the flavors of Chef Bill Kim's and his wife Yvonne's Korean and Puerto Rican youth, Belly Shack takes you on a playful journey through the foods that defined their childhoods.
Meet the Business Owner
Award winning Chef Bill Kim got his start in the restaurant industry honing his culinary skills at world-renowned establishments Charlie Trotter's and Le Lan. After spending years perfecting his skills alongside the best in the industry, Chef Kim would eventually venture out on his own in 2008, bringing his imaginative Asian inspired cuisine to his highly acclaimed Chicago restaurants Urbanbelly, bellyQ and Belly Shack.
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134 reviews
We'll be back SOON, maybe to dine in this time since it's apparently BYOB.
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